(9)我又閑了一個多月啦!
a. I've been idle for another month now.
b. Another month now and I've had no work.
該例原文中,處于述位的“閑”一詞意義關鍵。譯文a選擇形容詞idle譯之,采用“系表結構”作謂語。譯文b以to have no work譯之,采用“謂語動詞+賓語”的句式。從意義的傳達來看,兩個譯文都不錯。但就文體色彩而言,譯文a偏向中性書面語體,而譯文b屬非正式口語體,效果與原文更接近。
(10)(頤和園)1900年遭八國聯軍破壞,(至1903年才得以修復)。
a. The palace was reduced to ruins by the allied forces of the eight foreign powers.
b. The palace suffered ravage in the hands of the allied forces of the eight foreign powers.
該例句兩個譯文以不同的謂語動詞表達了相同的意義。譯文a用短語be reduced to ...,選擇了被動語態(tài)的形式。譯文b用動詞suffer,與賓語ravage搭配,采取了主動語態(tài)的形式。該例句說明,有時我們對謂語的處理可以有多種選擇。
(11)她們(指“時裝模特”)逐漸地鎮(zhèn)定下來,有了自信。
a. They gradually calmed down, restored self-confidence, and ...
b. Gradually, they calmed down and regained self-confidence.
兩個譯文都采用了“謂語動詞+賓語”的句式結構。兩者運用同一名詞self-confidence作賓語,但選用的謂語動詞有別。譯文a選詞不妥,因為restore一詞意為give back, bring back into use (LDCE),與賓語self-confidence搭配不當。而譯文b中的謂語regain一詞,根據同一詞典,意為get or win back,與該賓語搭配恰當,在此是一個合適的選擇。